Matic played in the win at Arsenal last weekend, despite not being fully fit following a muscular problem, but then sat out the midweek victory over CSKA Moscow. Ibrahimovic missed both matches due to a bit of fatigue following his return from a long-term knee injury. Jones has been sidelined since being away with England on international duty but is back in contention for a place in defence.
Fellaini, meanwhile, has been trying to shake off a knee problem, but the game has come too soon for Eric Bailly and Michael Carrick, who remain sidelined.
Asked by reporters about Sunday's clash, Mourinho said: "I know that a derby is something special for the people. For us, in the end, it is three points but, honestly, I think that for the people born in the city and feeling the colours in that good positive rivalry, it is a special match.
"I think, in the right way, the derbies are a beautiful thing - same city, different colours, friends they support different colours and, even under the same roof in some families, they disagree on the passion for the colours. Taken in the right way, it is a beautiful thing, so I hope that on Sunday before the game you have a city full of colour, red and blue, and after the game the same, and, during the game, that's a football match where everybody wants to win."
Across the city, Pep Guardiola held his pre-match press conference and confirmed, as expected, that David Silva is fit for the Blues. Vincent Kompany and Fabian Delph both missed Wednesday's Champions League defeat to Shakhtar Donetsk, with Guardiola confirming to City's official website that Kompany "felt something and was not comfortable before Wednesday's game", while Delph was ill.
Kyle Walker and Nicolas Otamendi, both rested in Ukraine, are available for Sunday, but John Stones and Benjamin Mendy are both still out.
No comments:
Post a Comment